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Kessel Signs Eight-Year Deal

by
Staff Writer
/ Toronto Maple Leafs

Phil Kessel

Dave Nonis

David Nonis, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Tuesday that the hockey club has signed forward Phil Kessel to an eight-year contract extension that will commence at the start of the 2014-15 NHL season.

“Phil Kessel is one of the premier wingers and elite goal scorers in the National Hockey League today,” said Nonis. “He wanted to be a Maple Leaf long term and we’re very pleased that Phil will be a part of our core group of players in Toronto until the 2021-22 season.”

Kessel, 25, played 48 games for the Maple Leafs in 2012-13, leading the team in goals (20), assists (32), points (52), powerplay goals (5), game-winning goals (4) and shots (161). He ranked seventh in NHL points (tie) and ninth in shots. The native of Madison, Wisconsin also played seven playoff games for Toronto, posting team-highs in goals (4), powerplay goals (tie-1) and game-winning goals (2).

Over the last two seasons, Kessel has accumulated 134 points (57 goals, 77 assists) in 130 games. Only Steve Stamkos (154), Evgeni Malkin (142) and Claude Giroux (141) have more points in that stretch. Only three players have more goals than Kessel’s 89 over the last three seasons: Stamkos (134), Corey Perry (102) and Alex Ovechkin (102).

In 504 career NHL games with Boston (2006-07 to 2008-09) and Toronto (2009-10 to present), Kessel has collected 379 points (185 goals, 194 assists) with 139 penalty minutes. The 6-0, 202-pound right-winger has reached the 30-goal plateau four times, posting a career-high 37 goals in 2011-12. Kessel was originally selected by the Bruins in the first round, fifth overall, in the 2006 Entry Draft.